The Pride of a Beautiful Mind
When lofty pride corrupts a beautiful mind,when egotism infects the freshman's brain,
the genius who was the meek, lowly kind,
transforms into a dangerous, mad strain.
The brilliant brainiac who has turned vain,
the Putnam Fellow whose profoundest math,
and theorems caused his rivals so much pain,
precariously embarks on a Faustian path.
But life bathes us all in its humble bath,
and brings us back to a less sinful state,
which turns away the heavenly, sore wrath
of God and thus redeems our earthly fate.
If haughtiness keeps us from the more straight
and narrow, then patiently grace will wait.
Sonnet by Ngoc Nguyen
Written on 2026-03-04 at 13:06
Tags Putnam Faustian Pride
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